Mental!: The Toughest, Bloodiest and Hardest Challenges in the World

by Helen Summer

Overview

Each year, thousands of competitors pit themselves against the elements, extremes of geography and their own psyches to take part in the world's hardest physical challenges. From the cold of the highest peaks to the unforgiving heat of the desert, by sea, bike or foot seemingly ordinary people are undertaking extraordinary feats. Whether seeking to prove themselves as athletes, or attempting to escape the humdrum, one thing they all have in common is an unbreakable drive to test the very limits of their endurance. Mental! looks at over 60 of the most extreme marathons, triathlons, bike rides and other iconic endurance events from around the globe, taking in the hottest, coldest, highest, and most remote locations in the world. With a detailed description of each event, featuring personal stories from the competitors, this book offers massive highs and excruciating lows, and shows just what we can achieve in pushing the boundaries o human endeavour.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782199236
Publisher:	John Blake Publishing, Limited
Publication date:	11/01/2014
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.06(w) x 7.81(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Helen Summer is a running coach who has been involved in running for more than 40 years. She is the author of Running Crazy.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ix

Introduction xi

Foreword xiv

Ultra-running - An Overview 1

Keep Your Cool… 5

Yukon Arctic Ultra - Canada 5

Baikal Ice Running Marathon - Siberia 12

Arrowhead 135 - Minnesota, USA 17

The Spine Race - UK 21

Feeling the Heat… 25

Badwater 135 - California, USA 25

Spartathlon - Greece 35

UltraBalaton - Hungary 42

Jungle Ultra - Peru 46

First It's Cold, Then It's Hot… 43

Western States 100 - California, USA 49

In the Desert You Can't Remember Your Name… 55

Trans 333 - Worldwide 55

4 Deserts Race Series - China, Chile, Jordan, Antarctica 61

Atacama Crossing - Chile 64

Sahara Race - Jordan 71

Gobi March- China 74

The Last Desert Race - Antarctica 77

Marathon Des Sables - Morocco 80

Up Where the Air is Clear… 84

The High - La Ultra - India 84

Leadville 100 - Colorado, USA 90

Ultra-Trail DuMont-Blanc - France, Italy. Switzerland 95

Hardrock 100 - Colorado, USA 100

Ronda Del Cims - Andorra 104

Coast to Kosci - Australia 106

The Only Way Is Up… 109

Comrades Marathon - South Africa 109

West Highland Way Race - Scotland 115

Lakeland 100 - UK 119

Laugavegur Ultra Marathon - Iceland 122

Hardmoors 110-UK 126

Picnic Marathon - UK 129

Lyon Urban Trail Race- France 133

Steeplechase Race - UK 136

Fell Running - An Overview 141

UK & Ireland Rounds 143

While Down on the Flat… 149

The Thames Ring - UK 149

Grand Union Canal Race - UK 154

24-Hour Running - Worldwide 160

Are We There Yet? 163

Los Angeles to New York Foot Race - USA 163

Jogle Ultra-UK 171

Iditarod Trail Invitational - Alaska, USA 181

Masochists Apply Here… 184

Piece of String Fun Run - UK 184

The Barkley Marathons - Tennessee, USA 192

Get Down - And Dirty… 198

La Transbaie - France 198

The Grim-UK 201

And Dirtier Still… 204

Obstacle Mud-running - An Overview 204

Tough Guy-UK 207

Tough Mudder - Worldwide 212

X-Runner Mud & Water Series - UK 217

Spartan Race - Worldwide 220

Time to Clean Up Your Act… 223

Swimming - An Overview 223

International Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim - Switzerland 226

Vibes & Scribes - Lee Swim - Ireland 231

Corryvreckan Swim - Scotland 234

Cold Water Swimming Championships - UK/Worldwide 238

English Channel Swim - UK/France 243

Brown sea Island Swim - UK 254

Blood, Sweat and Gears… 258

Cycling - An Overview 258

Maratona Dies Dolomites - Italy 260

L'Étape Du Tour - France 263

Tour Divide - USA 267

Ride Across Britain - UK 271

Paris-Brest-Paris - France 275

Strathpuffer - Scotland 279

Yak Attack - India 283

Why Do One When You Can Do All Three…? 286

Triathlon/Ironman - An Overview 286

Arch to Arc - UK/France 292

Embrunman - France 298

Ironman Lanzarote - Canary Islands 302

Norseman Xtreme Triathlon - Norway 306

Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon - San Francisco, USA 310

Add a Kayak and Some Ropes… 312

Adventure Racing - An Overview 312

Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic - Alaska, USA 315

The Beast of Ballyhoura - Ireland 318

Patagonian Expedition Race - Chile 321

Coast to Coast - Scotland 326

Coast to Coast - New Zealand 329

Or Just Grab Your Canoe… 337

Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race - UK 337

Or Maybe Some Oars… 341

Atlantic Challenge 341

Or Just Go Completely Mental! 345

Zombie Survival Run - USA/UK 345

Vertical Racing - Worldwide 349

Shovel Racing - USA 353

Wife Carrying - Worldwide ' 356

And Finally… 361